It was a dull, dark and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung heavily in the sky. I passed alone, on horseback, through the dreary land. As the shades of the evening darkened, I found myself within view of the melancholy House of Usher. With the first glimpse of the building, a sense of painful gloom filled my spirit. I looked at the scene before me, upon the house, with its vacant eye-like windows and upon the simple landscape with its decayed trees. There was a sickening of my heart. Yet, I could not understand, what was it that frightened me so much in this place?
Adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher
Try to create your own scene with vivid atmosphere, but it does not have to be spooky. In fact, a haunted house probably makes your story common. Think instead, what kind of background do you want your story to take place in? Write about a place that you are familiar with, or at least have seen some pictures of. This would help you to write stories that are more realistic instead of ‘far-fetched’.
What goes into your description? Remember that the focus of your writing is the story, the atmosphere only provides the background. Therefore, your description should not be long.
Some observations about Poe’s writing:
Begin with a sweeping observation of the place “it was a dull, dark and soundless day “ Include significant details you see “simple landscape with its decayed trees" Uses his imagination to make comparisons “vacant eye-like windows" How does the environment make you feel? “There was a sickening of my heart"
Now, try to create the mood for this story:
A boy is in a shop, his friends are tempting him to shoplift. He looks around. Imagine what the shop looks like to him at this time.
Think about the following
What kind of shop is it? A neighbourhood shop? Or a shopping mall? What would you expect the usual mood to be like?
How is the boy feeling? Does it affect the way he looks at the surroundings?
What would be some significant details that might make him afraid? E.g. security guards
Adapted from Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher
Try to create your own scene with vivid atmosphere, but it does not have to be spooky. In fact, a haunted house probably makes your story common. Think instead, what kind of background do you want your story to take place in? Write about a place that you are familiar with, or at least have seen some pictures of. This would help you to write stories that are more realistic instead of ‘far-fetched’.
What goes into your description? Remember that the focus of your writing is the story, the atmosphere only provides the background. Therefore, your description should not be long.
Some observations about Poe’s writing:
Begin with a sweeping observation of the place “it was a dull, dark and soundless day “
Include significant details you see “simple landscape with its decayed trees"
Uses his imagination to make comparisons “vacant eye-like windows"
How does the environment make you feel? “There was a sickening of my heart"
Now, try to create the mood for this story:
A boy is in a shop, his friends are tempting him to shoplift. He looks around. Imagine what the shop looks like to him at this time.
Think about the following
What kind of shop is it? A neighbourhood shop? Or a shopping mall? What would you expect the usual mood to be like?
How is the boy feeling? Does it affect the way he looks at the surroundings?
What would be some significant details that might make him afraid? E.g. security guards